Container for preparation of a beverage and machine for automated filling of the container

ABSTRACT

A container for the preparation of a beverage and a machine for the filling of containers for the preparation of the beverage. The container includes an outer cup, an inner cup nesting inside the outer cup, and a filter disposed between a sidewall of the outer cup and a sidewall of the inner cup and covering a bottom opening of the inner cup. The machine includes a first zone configured to dispense a container from a stack of containers, a second zone configured to fill the container with a beverage substrate, a third zone configured to seal the container and dispense a filled container, and a carriage configured to transport the container between the first and second zones, and between the second and third zones.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/663,380 filed on Oct. 25, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,220,397, whichis a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/234,301 filed onAug. 11, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,486,896, which claims the benefitunder 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of the earlier filing date of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/203,570 filed on Aug. 11, 2015, the disclosureof which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

This application discloses an invention which is related, generally andin various embodiments, to the field of containers for preparation ofbeverages, especially coffee and tea and to machines for automatedfilling of the containers.

The popularity of the single beverage server such as those sold underthe trademark KEURIG continues to rise. In general, single beverageservers typically use a single serving pod, cartridge or containerhaving a premeasured amount of a beverage substrate such as groundcoffee or tea to which hot water is added. A typical brewing cartridgeis a plastic container with a filter inside. A beverage substrate ispacked in the typical brewing cartridge inside a paper filter and sealedwith a foil lid. A typical single beverage server brews coffee or tea bypiercing the foil seal on top of the plastic container with a spraynozzle, while piercing the bottom of the container with a dischargenozzle. Hot water is forced through the container, passing through thebeverage substrate and through the filter. Typical single beveragecontainers have been criticized for the difficulty of recycling thecontainers and for the impact the disposable plastic containers have onthe environment.

Although convenient, typical disposable single serving containers may beless desirable in some situations due to increased cost and lack of theability to customize the type or strength of the beverage. For example,because the single serving containers are prepackaged, the selection ofbeverage substrates is limited. As a result, a user may not be able touse his/her favorite beverage substrate when utilizing a prepackagedsingle serving container. Similarly, because the single servingcontainers are prepackaged, varying the strength of the resultantbeverage may be difficult.

Reusable single serving containers tend to be tedious due to the natureof pouring beverage substrates such as coffee grounds in a smallcontainer. Also, reusable single serving containers require cleaningthat disposable single serving containers do not. As such, there is adesirability for single serving containers composed of recyclablematerials and present container designs do not facilitate this.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention are described herein in by way ofexample in conjunction with the following figures, wherein likereference characters designate the same or similar elements.

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a container for preparation of a beverageaccording to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a container through line A-A ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3A shows a detail view of area B of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3B shows a detail view of area C of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a machine for automated filling ofthe container according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of the machine of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the machine through line A-A ofFIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the machine through line B-B ofFIG. 6.

FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the machine through line C-C ofFIG. 6.

FIG. 10 shows an open front view of the machine in a first operatingposition of the third zone.

FIG. 11 shows an open front view of the machine in a second operatingposition of the third zone.

FIG. 12 shows an open front view of the machine in a third operatingposition of the third zone.

FIG. 13 shows an open front view of the machine in a fourth operatingposition of the third zone.

FIG. 14 shows an open front view of the machine in a fifth operatingposition of the third zone.

FIG. 15 shows an open front view of the machine in a sixth operatingposition of the third zone.

FIG. 16 shows an open back view of the machine, showing the interior ofthe machine.

FIG. 17A shows an open front view of the machine.

FIG. 17B shows a cross-sectional view through lines D-D of FIG. 17Ashowing the operating procedure of the first zone's container drop.

FIG. 18A shows an open top view of the machine.

FIG. 18B shows a cross-sectional view through lines A-A of FIG. 18Ashowing positions of the photo eyes of the first, second, and thirdzones.

FIG. 19 shows an open bottom view showing first, second, and third zonemicro switches.

FIG. 20 shows an exploded view of the machine.

FIG. 21 shows a front perspective exploded view of several third zonecomponents.

FIG. 22 shows a rear perspective exploded view of several third zonecomponents.

FIG. 23 shows a front perspective view of several third zone components.

FIG. 24 shows a rear perspective view of several third zone components.

FIG. 25 shows a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofthe third zone.

FIG. 26 shows a top view of the alternative embodiment of the third zoneshown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 shows a side view if the alternative embodiment of the thirdzone shown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 28 shows a cross-sectional view through line A-A of FIG. 26.

FIG. 29 shows a cross-sectional view through line B-B of FIG. 26.

FIG. 30 shows a cross-sectional view through line C-C of FIG. 27.

FIG. 31 shows a top view if the alternative embodiment of the third zonein a clamp position.

FIG. 32 shows a cross-sectional view through line A-A of FIG. 31.

FIG. 33 shows a top view of the alternative embodiment of the third zonein a seal position.

FIG. 34 shows a cross-sectional view through line A-A of FIG. 33.

FIG. 35 shows a top view if the alternative embodiment of the third zonein a cut position.

FIG. 36 shows a cross-sectional view through line A-A of FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 shows a top view if the alternative embodiment of the third zonein an up position.

FIG. 38 shows a cross-sectional view through line A-A of FIG. 37.

FIG. 39 shows a top perspective view of select components of thealternative embodiment of the third zone including the carriage in aclosed position.

FIG. 40 shows a top perspective view of select components of thealternative embodiment of the third zone including the carriage in apartially open position.

FIG. 41 shows a top perspective view of select components of thealternative embodiment of the third zone including the carriage in anopen ejection position.

FIG. 42 shows an exploded view of components of the alternativeembodiment of the third zone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that at least some of the figures anddescriptions of the invention have been simplified to illustrateelements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the invention,while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, other elements that those ofordinary skill in the art will appreciate may also comprise a portion ofthe invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art,and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of theinvention, a description of such elements is not provided herein.

Embodiments of the present application address the above-describedshortcomings by providing a container for preparation of a beverage anda machine for automated filling of the container by a user. As usedherein, the term container is synonymous with cartridges, cups,capsules, pods, and the like, that may be used in the preparation of abeverage or other food. The term beverage, as used herein is intended toinclude and not be limited to coffee, tea, and other beverages or foods.The beverage substrates may include but are not limited to ground orfreeze dried coffee, tea, herbs, powdered beverage concentrate, or otherbeverage or food concentrates. For purposes of the descriptionhereinafter, the terms “top,” “bottom,” “vertical,” and “horizontal” andderivatives thereof shall relate to the invention, as it is oriented inthe drawing FIGS.

An exemplary embodiment of a container 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 - 4.The container 10 comprises an outer cup 12, an inner cup 14, and afilter 16. A lid 18 is heat sealed onto container 10. Outer cup 12includes a base 20, frustoconically shaped sidewall 22, and an opening24 opposite base 20. Sidewall 22 includes a radially outwardlyprotruding lip 26 surrounding opening 24. Inner cup 14 nests inside andis shorter in height than outer cup 12. Inner cup 14 includes a bottomopening 28, frustoconically shaped sidewall 30, and a top opening 32opposite bottom opening 28. Sidewall 30 includes a radially outwardlyprotruding lip 34 surrounding top opening 32. Filter 16 is disposedbetween sidewall 22 and sidewall 30 and covers bottom opening 28. Base20 includes a rim 36 around its periphery. Each of lips 26 and 34 isfolded-over, and flattened. Lips 26 and 34 are stacked with lip 34 ofinner cup 14 on top of lip 26 of outer cup 12. Lips 26 and 34 are thenheat sealed together. This sealing creates a durable rim that gives thecontainers 10 structural integrity. This also allows for a stronger,more sure seal of lid 18 when it is placed and heat sealed on thecontainers 10. It also helps prevent blowouts around these lips 26 and34 when the heat and pressure of the beverage is inside of the container10 during the brewing process. Rim 36 of base 20 of outer cup 12 is alsofolded over, flattened and heat sealed against base 20. This createssupport for base 20, and allows for a better puncture of the material ofthe container in brewing devices. Doing this also helps prevent base 20from losing structural integrity during the brewing process, and keepsit from blowing out while it is under the heat and pressure of thebeverage being applied to it. Outer cup 12 and inner cup 14 arepreferably made from compostable, heat sealable paper. Filter 16 ispreferably made from compostable paper. Lid 18 is preferably made fromcompostable, heat sealable paper or compostable plastic, and is heatsealed to lip 34 of the inner cup and flattened. In addition to otherdesign features of container 10, the double heat sealed lips 26 and 34and folded over and heat sealed rim 36 of base 20 provides structuralintegrity which allows the use of compostable, heat sealable stockmaterial. Without these features, compostable, heat sealable stockmaterial would be unsound and unusable in brewing container.

An exemplary embodiment of a machine 40 for automated filling ofcontainers 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 5-24. Machine 40 is for theautomated filling of containers 10 with beverage substrate for later usein a single beverage server. Machine 40 is compact and is intended foruse by an individual user in, for example, a kitchen or office setting.Machine 40 has machine settings 42, for example, for power, selectingwhat beverage is being made, for purging substrate, and the quantity ofbeverage substrate that is put into each container. In the illustratedembodiment, machine settings 42 include a three point switch forselecting “Coffee”, “Cocoa”, or “Tea” is on the front panel of themachine. The user selects what is being put into the containers 10.Machine settings 42 also include a three point switch for selecting“Light”, “Regular”, or “Strong” is also on the front panel of themachine. The user selects one of these settings which effects how muchbeverage substrate ends up in each container. Other settings andswitches may also be used.

Machine 40 includes three zones including a first zone 44 for dispensinga container 10 from a stack of containers 58, a second zone 46 forfilling the container 10 with a beverage substrate and a third zone 48for sealing the container 10 with a lid 18 and dispensing a filledcontainer 10. A carriage 52 is disposed beneath the three zones 44, 46and 48 and has a motor 50 (FIG. 16) for moving carriage 52 in areciprocating motion on a pair of rails 54 (FIG. 7) in order to transfera container 10 between the zones 44, 46 and 48.

First zone 44 includes a container loading channel 56 for receiving avertical stack 58 of containers 10. Loading channel 56 has a funnelshaped opening 60 at its upper receiving end. Loading channel 56 furtherincludes fingers 64 configured to keep the stack 58 of containers 10upright. First zone 44 further includes a ring gear 66 and cylindricalgears 68 surrounding loading channel 56 at its lower dispensing endwhich dispenses containers 10 one at a time from the stack of containers58 into carriage 52 which transports the container 10 to second zone 42.First zone 44 includes a motor 62. Referring to FIG. 17B, ring gear 66has teeth on the outside edge, as well as on the inside edge. Motor 62has a small gear that meshes with the outside teeth of the ring gear 66.The teeth located on the inside of ring gear 66 mesh with small gearheads on the bottom of cylindrical gears 68. The heat sealed lips 34 and26, ride in the grooves of the cylindrical gears 68 as motor 62 pulses,before dropping out into the carriage 52 below.

Machine 40 runs preliminary checks to ensure proper running of machine40. In a first check, the carriage motor 50 brings carriage 52 to it tofirst zone 44, where it registers off of a first zone micro switch 120.A first zone photo eye 114 under first zone 44 checks for an obstructingcontainer 10 presence. If there is an obstructing container 10, thecarriage 52 runs over to third zone 48 and a red Error Notification LEDis lit above third zone 48, prompting the user to remove the obstructingcontainer 10. If no container 10 is present, the first zone 44 motor 62that runs the gears holding the stack 58 of containers 10 will be givena start signal for dropping a container 10.

Once carriage 52 is positioned directly under first zone 44, the motor62 spinning the ring gear 66 that spins the cylindrical gears 68 beginsto pulse. This pulsing moves the containers 10 downward until onecontainer 10 is released from the loading channel 56 and the cylindricalgear 68 holding container 10. As soon as a container 10 has dropped, thefirst zone photo eye 114 (FIGS. 16 and 18B) beneath first zone 44 sensesthe change in distance moved by the bottom of the container 10, andstops the first zone 44 motor 62 from pulsing immediately. Once thesignal from first zone photo eye 114 has been activated, the motor 50for carriage 52 turns on, and sends the carriage to second zone 46.

Referring to FIG. 8, second zone 46 includes a beverage substrate hopper70 having a funnel shaped lower dispensing end 74. An auger housing 78having an auger 80 is disposed at lower dispensing end 74 for receivingbeverage substrate from the beverage substrate hopper 70. Auger 80propels a selected amount of beverage substrate into a container 10 oncarriage 52 upon rotation of auger 80. After filling of the container 10with the selected amount of beverage substrate carriage 52 transportscontainer 10 to third zone 48. Second zone 46 includes a motor 76 forrotating auger 80.

Once carriage 52 trips a micro switch 122 under second zone 46, themotor 50 for carriage 52 receives a signal to stop, and the motor 76 forsecond zone 46 that runs auger 80 begins to spin. A time delay is builtinto the program for the auger's motor 76 to allow for a priming of theauger housing 78. The beverage substrate dispenses at the bottom of theauger housing 78, which has a second zone photo eye 116 (FIG. 18B)housed inside of it. As soon as beverage substrate begins to exit augerhousing 78, photo eye 116 picks up the break in its signal, and beginsto run an algorithm based on the settings selected earlier. Once thetimer in the algorithm reaches its end, it signals the auger motor 76 tostop, thereby stopping the filling of the container 10. At this point italso sends a signal to the carriage motor 50 to turn on, and to sendcarriage 52 to third zone 48.

Third zone 48 includes a lid dispenser 82 for receiving a stack of lids18 and dispensing lids 18 one at a time. Third zone 48 further includesa third zone motor 84, a heat seal vacuum head 86 having heating element87 (FIG. 11), a vacuum pump 88 (FIG. 8) and a vacuum pump motor 90.Third zone 48 further includes a wheel gear 92 having a knob 94 disposedon one side thereof around the periphery of the wheel gear 92, anelevating carriage 96 that is attached to two vertical guide rails 98,and a stationary bracket 99.

FIGS. 10-15 show the operation of third zone 48. FIGS. 21-24 showseveral of the components of third zone 48. Once carriage 52 begins tohead towards third zone 48, a signal is sent to third zone motor 84 toturn on. Carriage 52 signals third zone 48 by second zone micro switch122 being activated when it leaves second zone 46 and when it touchesanother micro switch 124 under the third zone 48 (FIG. 19). A signal issent to the vacuum pump motor 90 to turn on and create vacuum, and asignal is sent to turn on the heating element 87. Third zone 48 has afirst third zone photo eye 118A and a second third zone photo eye 118B.First third zone photo eye 118A detects whether a container 10 islocated in carriage 52 for being heat sealed. If there is no container10, it sends a signal to motor 84 to stop, and lights a red LED. Firstthird zone photo eye 118A also makes sure that the container 10 leavescarriage 52, and exits machine 40 properly. If it detects an object inits area still, it stops machine 40 from operating, and lights a redLED. The third zone motor 84 drives wheel gear 92. The knob 94 (FIG. 21)on the wheel gear 92 rotates 360 degrees around the wheel gear 92. Knob94 is set into a channel 100 (FIG. 22) molded in the back of elevatingcarriage 96. This rotation of the wheel gear 92 with the knob 94 in thechannel 100 causes the attached elevating carriage 96 to move up anddown vertical guide rails 98 in one simple continuous 360 degreerotation. Coming through a hole 101 in the elevating carriage 96 is ashaft 104 attached to the heat seal vacuum head 86. The heat seal vacuumhead 86 rotates on this shaft 104. The shaft 104 has a cup-shaped holder106 on the end of it. Cup-shaped holder 106 has a knob 107 on one endthat rides up and down a slot 102 in stationary bracket 99. As knob 107moves along slot 102, cup-shaped holder 106 catches a C-shapedprotrusion 108 (FIG. 21) on stationary bracket 99 that causes the heatseal vacuum head 86 to flip around vertically as it travels up and down.This rotating heat seal vacuum head 86 is what moves vertically up anddown in third zone 48. The heat seal vacuum head 86 (FIG. 10) rotatesupward to pick a lid 18 from the lid dispenser 82 above (FIG. 9), androtates back down to the filled container 10 awaiting in the carriagebelow 52 (FIG. 11). While holding the lid 18, the heat seal vacuum head86 presses downwards onto the top of the container 10 below, appliespressure with a spring carriage 110 in the heat seal vacuum head 86, andwith the heating element 87 in the heat seal vacuum head 86, heat sealsthe lid 18 to the rim of the container 10 (FIG. 12). After a briefperiod of waiting for the heat seal to finish, the vacuum still on, theheat seal vacuum head 86 lifts the container 10 out of the carriagebelow 52 (FIG. 13), turns at a 45 degree angle (FIG. 14), and releasesthe container 10 by turning off the vacuum (FIG. 15). The vacuum isturned off by second third zone photo eye 118B (FIG. 16) sending asignal to turn off the vacuum pump motor 90. This signal is sent byhaving a notch in the back of wheel 92. The notch rotates with theturning of wheel 92, and passes by second third zone photo eye 118B,which gives off the signal at exactly the same spot every time. Thecontainer 10 falls onto a ramp 112 below, and slides out of the machine40 onto a countertop, finished. After a container 10 is completed, themachine receives a signal to begin the process again, and carriage 52runs back to first zone 44 to start over. Control can be accomplished bya processor and software instructions, hardwired logic, and mechanicalcontrol mechanisms. Various sensors and actuators can be used as is wellknown in the mechanical arts to detect the mechanism position and togenerate the required signals for control.

FIGS. 25-42 show an alternative embodiment of the machine 40′ forautomated filling of containers 10′. If not otherwise stated herein, itmay be assumed that all components and/or processes described below may,if appropriate, be considered to be interchangeable with similarcomponents and/or processes disclosed previously in the specification,unless an express indication is made to the contrary, wherein likereference numbers indicate like elements described and shown withreference to the previous embodiment, wherein modified elements aredesignated by prime. Machine 40′ differs from machine 40 primarily inthe design of carriage 52′ and the third zone 48′. The first zone 44 andthe second zone 46 components are the same. The containers 10′ used inthis embodiment differ from the ones used in the previous embodiment, inthat containers 10′ are sealed with a lid sized piece of film 124′instead of a lid 18 from a lid dispenser 82. With reference to FIGS.5-42, the this embodiment has a first zone 44 for dispensing a container10′ from a stack of containers 58, a second zone 46 for filling thecontainer 10′ with a beverage substrate and a third zone 48′ (FIGS.25-42) for sealing the container 10′ and dispensing a filled container10′. Carriage 52′ is disposed beneath the three zones 44, 46 and 48′ andhas a motor 50 for moving carriage 52′ in a reciprocating motion on apair of rails 54 in order to transfer a container 10′ between the zones44, 46 and 48′. Carriage 52′ differs from carriage 52 in that itincludes a hinged ejector mechanism 126 (FIGS. 39-41). Specifically,carriage 52′ includes a seat member 128 opposite the hinged ejectormechanism 126. Hinged ejector mechanism 126 includes a first hingedmember 130 and a second hinged member 132 each having an inner end 134which when the hinged ejector mechanism 126 is closed (FIG. 39) isdisposed adjacent the inner end 134 of the other hinged member 130, 132.The outer end 136 of each of the first and second hinged members 130,132 includes a finger 138 having a groove 140. Each of the first andsecond hinged members 130, 132 further includes a pivot 142 intermediatethe inner end 134 and the outer end 136 to open and close the first andsecond hinged members 130, 132. A container 10′ is held between the seatmember 128 and the hinged ejector mechanism 126 until the first andsecond hinged members 130, 132 are rotated (FIGS. 40, 41) about thepivots 142 upon opening of the hinged ejector mechanism 126.

The third zone 48′ includes a film advance gear 144, a sealing mechanism146 and a film cartridge 148. The film advance gear 144 has geared teeth150 on only part, for example substantially 180° , of it that raises andlowers sealing mechanism 146. Heat sealing mechanism 146 includes ahousing 172, a top plate 174 with guiding and supporting rails and abottom plate 176. A heat plate for sealing 180 and a circular blade 162disposed in between the top plate 74 and the bottom plate 176. The heatsealing mechanism further comprises a piston arm 180 and springs 182.Piston arm 180 helps drive the top plate down and outs pressure onsprings 182 to help create a strong seal on the film and cup 10′. Thefilm cartridge 148 has first and second spools 152, 154 (FIG. 28) ateach of first and second ends 156,158 thereof about which film 124 iswound around for advancement of the film 124 from the first end 156 tothe second end 158. The film 124 is for sealing the containers 10′ andfor creating a lid on top. The position of the teeth 150 on the filmadvance gear 144 causes the film 124 to advance in the film cartridge148 only while the heat sealing mechanism 146 is in the raised,non-sealing position. The film advance gear 144 causes the film 124 toadvance in the film cartridge 148 by engaging with another gear (notshown) on the inside of the film cartridge 148.

The third zone 48′ further includes ejector actuators such as first andsecond ejector pins 166, 168 (FIGS. 39-41) to eject the container 10′from the carriage 52′. As carriage 52′ is advanced along the rails 54first and second ejector pins 166, 168 enter grooves 140. As thecarriage 52′ continues to advance, the fingers 138 rotate forward,pushing against the container 10′, and sending it outside of the machine40′.

To operate machine 40′, a user places a vertical stack 58 of containers10′ into the container loading channel 56 of the first zone 44, loadsthe beverage substrate into beverage substrate hopper 70 in the secondzone 46, and places a film cartridge 148 into a slot 170 in the heatsealing mechanism 146. The user then selects the settings of what isbeing made by moving a three point switch for selecting, for example,“Coffee,” “Cocoa,” or “Tea,” or and the quantity of beverage substrateto put in each container 10 by moving a three point switch forselecting, for example, “Light,” “Regular,” or “Strong.” Next, the userpowers on the machine 40′ by turning on the power switch. This causesmotor 50 to return carriage 52′ to the first zone 44 where it is sensedby microswitch 120 and photo eye 114 checks for an obstructing presence.If there is an obstructing container, carriage 52′ moves to the thirdzone 48′ and a red Error Notification LED is lit, prompting the user toremove the obstructing container. If no container 10′ is present, asignal is sent to second zone motor 76 that runs the gears 66, 68holding the stack 58 of containers 10′ the start signal for dropping acontainer 10′. Once the carriage 52′ is positioned directly under thefirst zone 44, the first zone motor 62 spinning the ring gear 66 thatspins the cylindrical gears 68 begins to pulse. This pulsing moves thecontainers 10′ downward until one is released from the channel 56 incylindrical gear 68 holding the container 10′. As soon as a container10′ has dropped, the photo eye 114 beneath the first zone 44 senses thechange in distance moved by the bottom of the container 10′, and stopsthe first zone 44 motor 62 from pulsing immediately. Once the signalfrom the photo eye 114 under the first zone 44 has been activated, themotor 50 for the carriage 52′ turns on, and sends the carriage 52′ tothe second zone 46.

Once the carriage 52′ trips micro switch 122 under the second zone 46,the motor 50 for carriage 52′ receives a signal to stop, and the motor76 for the second zone 46 that runs the auger 80 begins to spin. A timedelay is built into the program for the auger's motor 76 to allow for apriming of the auger housing 78. As soon as beverage substrate begins toexit the lower dispensing end 74, photo eye 116 picks up the break inits signal, and begins to run an algorithm based on the settingsselected earlier. Once the timer in the algorithm reaches its end, itsignals the auger motor 76 to stop, thereby stopping the filling of thecontainer 10. At this point it also sends a signal to the carriage motor50 to turn on, and to send it to the third zone 48′.

Once the carriage 52′ arrives in the third zone 48′, a signal is sent tothe third zone's motor 84′ to turn on. Motor 84′ drives a series ofgears that operate the heat sealing mechanism 146 and the film advancegear 144. A signal is sent to the heat sealing mechanism 146 to turn onand maintain a specific temperature. The heat sealing mechanism 146lowers to the film cartridge 148 below by the series of gears driven bythe film advance gear 144. A multi-step process happens during the seal.First, a ridge 160 on the cup carriage 52′ pushes against the film 124and heat sealing mechanism 146 during the first lowering of the heatsealing mechanism 146 (FIGS. 31, 32). This holds a lid sized piece offilm 124 in place. After it is held, the second movement happens wherethe heat sealing mechanism 146 lowers by the series of gears driven bythe film advance gear 144 and makes contact to seal the film to the rim36 of the container 10′ (FIGS. 33, 34). The final process is circularblade 162 that comes down and cuts out a hole in the film around the rim36 of the container 10′. Circular blade 162 is also driven by the seriesof gears driven by the film advance gear 144 (FIGS. 35, 36) finishingand releasing the container 10′ from the film 124 and film cartridge148. FIGS. 37 and 38 show the return of the cammed piston arm whichreturns components operated by the series of gears back to the start,and moves the film 124 in the film cartridge 148 forward for a freshuncut spot on the film 124. To eject the container 10, the carriage 52′is hinged and opens up after arriving at first and second ejector pins166, 168 along the rails 54 of the machine 40′. As one end of thecarriage 52′ opens, fingers 138 rotate forward, pushing against thecontainer 10′, and sending it outside of the machine 40′.

Nothing in the above description is meant to limit the invention to anyspecific materials, geometry, or orientation of elements. Manypart/orientation substitutions are contemplated within the scope of theinvention and will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Theembodiments described herein were presented by way of example only andshould not be used to limit the scope of the invention.

Although the invention has been described in terms of particularembodiments in this application, one of ordinary skill in the art, inlight of the teachings herein, can generate additional embodiments andmodifications without departing from the spirit of, or exceeding thescope of, the described invention. Accordingly, it is understood thatthe drawings and the descriptions herein are proffered only tofacilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed tolimit the scope thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container for the preparation of a beveragecomprising: an outer cup having a base, a frustoconically shapedsidewall, and an opening opposite the base; an inner cup nesting insidethe outer cup; the inner cup having a bottom opening, a frustoconicallyshaped sidewall, and a top opening opposite the bottom opening; and afilter disposed between the sidewall of the outer cup and the sidewallof the inner cup and covering the bottom opening of the inner cup. 2.The container of claim 1, wherein the sidewall of the outer cup includesa radially outwardly protruding lip surrounding the opening of the outercup, and wherein the sidewall of the inner cup includes a radiallyoutwardly protruding lip surrounding the top opening of the inner cup.3. The container of claim 2, wherein the lip of the outer cup and thelip of the inner cup are each have a folded over and flattenedconfiguration, and wherein the lip of the outer cup and the lip of theinner cup are heat sealed together.
 4. The container of claim 3 furthercomprising a rim on the periphery of the base of the outer cup.
 5. Thecontainer of claim 4, wherein the rim has a folded over and flattenedconfiguration and is heat sealed to the base.
 6. The container of claim5, further comprising a lid disposed on the radially outwardlyprotruding lip of the inner cup.
 7. The container of claim 6, whereinthe lid is heat sealed to the radially outwardly protruding lip of theinner cup.
 8. The container of claim 7, wherein the inner cup and theouter cup comprise compostable, heat sealable paper, wherein the filtercomprises compostable paper, and wherein the lid comprises one ofcompostable, heat sealable paper and compostable, heat sealable film. 9.A machine for the filling of containers for the preparation of abeverage, the machine comprising: a first zone configured to dispense acontainer from a stack of containers; a second zone configured to fillthe container with a beverage substrate; a third zone configured to sealthe container and dispense a filled container; a carriage configured totransport the container between the first and second zones, and betweenthe second and third zones.
 10. The machine of claim 9, wherein thethird zone includes a lid dispenser for receiving a stack of lids anddispensing lids one at a time to the container disposed on the carriageat the third zone.
 11. The machine of claim 10, wherein the third zonefurther includes a heat seal vacuum head having a heating element forsealing a lid on the container disposed on the carriage at the thirdzone.
 12. The machine of claim 11, wherein the third zone furtherincludes a wheel gear having a knob disposed on one side thereof aroundthe periphery of the wheel gear, and an elevating carriage supportingthe heat seal vacuum head, wherein the knob is set into a channel in theelevating carriage whereby rotation of the wheel gear with the knob inthe channel causes the elevating carriage to move up and down.
 13. Themachine of claim 12, wherein the elevating carriage includes a shaftrotatably attached to the heat seal vacuum head, wherein the heat sealvacuum head rotates on the shaft as the elevating carriage is raised andlowered.
 14. The machine of claim 13, wherein the heat seal vacuum headis configured to rotate upward to pick a lid from the lid dispenser androtate back down to the container in the carriage, and while holding thelid, the heat seal vacuum head is configured to press downward onto thetop of the container, while the heating element in the heat seal vacuumhead heat seals the lid onto the container.
 15. The machine of claim 9,wherein the third zone includes: a film cartridge configured to advancea film from a first end of the film cartridge to a second end of thefilm cartridge and to dispose the film above the container at a time thecontainer is disposed on the carriage at the third zone; and a heatsealing mechanism configured to seal the container with the film. 16.The machine of claim 15, wherein the third zone further includes a filmadvance gear configured to lower the heat sealing mechanism against thefilm disposed above the container on the carriage at the third zone. 17.The machine of claim 16, wherein the heat sealing mechanism includes: aheat plate configured for sealing the film; and a circular bladeconfigured for cutting a circular hole in the film around the container.18. The machine of claim 15, wherein the carriage includes: a seatmechanism; a hinged ejector mechanism opposite the hinged ejectormechanism, wherein the hinged ejector mechanism includes a first hingedmember and a second hinged member each having an inner end and an outerend; wherein when the hinged ejector mechanism is closed, the inner endof one of said first and second hinged members is disposed adjacent theinner end of the other one of said first and second hinged members. 19.The machine of claim 18, wherein the outer end of each of the first andsecond hinged members includes a finger having a groove, and whereineach of the first and second hinged members further includes a pivotintermediate the inner end and the outer end to about which the firstand second hinged members are configured to pivot.
 20. The machine ofclaim 19, wherein the third zone further includes first and secondejector pins, wherein the carriage is advanced through the third zone,the first and second ejector pins are configured to enter the groovesand rotate the fingers to cause the first and second hinged members topivot, pushing against the container, and sending the container outsideof the machine.